The Night Before Christmas (Un-poem)

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through God's house...

...was hustle and bustle.

As the fire of sunset burned in the west, the bleating of sheep and cooing of doves echoed among the cold stone pillars. The moneylenders, after a hard day's cheating, waited patiently with cash in hand for the pharisees to end their protracted and ebullient prayers long enough to receive their portion of the proceeds.

In a place not prominent, but hidden in shadows, a wizened man offered up an infinitely simpler prayer from the depths of his heart. The passage of years had dimmed his sight, but not his certainty, for he knew that God cannot lie.

"How long, oh Lord?" he whispered as he rocked back and forth, the intensity of his petition moving him body and soul. A tear of longing slid down his cheek as he remembered all who died without seeing the promise: Abraham "...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you;" Isaac; Jacob "...the scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes." Even Isaiah, who had so described his coming, had died without seeing the Messiah.

As he settled his aching bones on the unforgiving stone floor, Simeon's heart cried out. Messiah had been promised, but Simeon had a special promise from the Lord: he would not die until he saw Emmanuel.

Meanwhile, in the court of women, Anna the Prophetess prepared for another night in the temple. The crowd swirled around her, going home to waiting families and welcoming hearth fires. But still she stayed, as she had for so many years of her widowhood. God had become her family, her warmth, her comfort, and her ever-living joy. She praised Him for the promise that He would rescue Jerusalem, freeing the captives from their bondage, healing the blind and lame, and bringing the hearts of men back to the Lord.

Just weeks later, those who waited and watched for Messiah in the Temple were rewarded. Simeon rejoiced, saying,

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

Anna was quick to add her praise and tell everyone else who searched for Messiah that He had come at last.


We didn't have to wait. This all happened so long ago that we take it for granted. We forget that millenia passed when people longed for God's friendship; when the people of Israel quaked before the mountain of fire that shook and smoked with His power. They delivered their animals for slaughter day after day and year after year, waiting. The prophets saw amazing visions, revelations of God's power and radiant majesty, but even they did not see the unveiling of the mystery.

Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and his parents, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel... the list in Hebrews is amazing. But what is more amazing is what follows: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." (Hebrews 11:39)

After the centuries of restless waiting and watching, the Messiah came! He came and completed the work of redemption; he died and entered God's presence, presenting his blood as the perfect sacrifice that satisfied God's perfect justice; his death fulfilled the requirement. "The wages of sin is death," but he took all the payment. The way has been cleared for us to have a relationship with God! We can enter into His presence with joyful boldness, knowing that we will be accepted because of Christ. WE have received the promise!

What should we do with this knowledge? The author of Hebrews tells us quite plainly:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

This is a challenge to us. As we remember Christ's birth during this happy season, let this be the Christmas inspiration that lasts long past December: remember those who waited long for His coming and their challenge to run the race marked out for us.